Methods and apparatus for capturing magnetic credit card data on a hand held device

ABSTRACT

A handheld device for capturing magnetic credit card data includes a MEMS magnetic field sensor disposed within the housing, wherein the MEMS magnetic field sensor is configured to determine a plurality of magnetic data stored on a magnetic stripe of a user provided media when the user disposes a user provided media proximate to the housing, and a processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the MEMS magnetic field sensor, wherein the processor is programmed to receive the plurality of user data stored on the user provided media, wherein the processor is configured to execute an application program, and wherein the processor is programmed to provide at least a subset of the plurality of user data to the application program.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application relates to and incorporates by reference, forall purposes, the following pending patent applications: U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/490,067, filed Jun. 23, 2009, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/717,070, filed Mar. 3, 2009, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/787,368, filed May 25, 2010. The presentinvention also incorporates by reference, for all purposes, thefollowing pending patent applications related to magnetic field sensors:U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/859,631, filed Aug. 19, 2010, U.S.Pat. App. No. 61/347,805, filed May 24, 2010, and U.S. Pat. App. No.61/348,387, filed May 26, 2010.

The present application is also related to concurrently filed U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/940,020, U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/940,025, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/940,026, all ofwhich are commonly owned and incorporated by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to touch screen devices.More specifically, the present invention relates to touch screen devicescapable of sensing the force of a touch and methods of use thereof.

The use of touch screen devices and touch user interfaces are now quitecommon place for consumers: from the signature machine in the checkoutisle, to automatic teller machines at banks, to ticketing kiosks atairports, and the like. Touch screen capability is also now quite commonin hand-held devices: from the Palm Pilot, to the Google Nexus One, tothe Apple iPad, and the like.

Touch capability has typically been enabled for many touch screendevices through the incorporation and use of a resistive sensor network.These sensor networks can sense when a single finger of the user touchesthe display, or when the user uses a stylus to touch the display.

Drawbacks to touch screen devices incorporating resistive-based sensors,determined by the inventor, include that if a user inadvertently touchestwo locations on the touch screen at the same time, the locationreported by the touch screen is often incorrect. As such devicestypically only support detecting one finger at a time, for example, iftwo fingers touch the screen, the reported touch location may be betweenthe two fingers. Another drawback includes that the user has to pressdown with some force on the touch screen before the touch screen candetect the user touch.

Newer capacitive-based touch screen displays are now more commonly usedand address some of the short comings of a resistive-based sensornetwork. As an example, capacitive-based touch screens can sense theindividual locations of fingers when the user touches the display withmore than one finger. Accordingly, these devices are often termed“multi-touch” displays. As another example, capacitive-based touchscreens do not require the user to press-down upon the touch screenbefore the finger is sensed.

Drawbacks to the use of capacitive-based touch screens, determined bythe inventor, include that even if a user inadvertently brushes herfinger across the touch screen, that accidental swipe may still besensed as a user input. This is particularly frustrating, for example,when a user is trying to touch-type using a virtual keyboard to inputtext. In such cases, as the user hovers her fingers over the home row ofthe virtual keyboard, often her little finger, middle finger, or thelike may accidentally touch the surface of the display. These touchesare then incorrectly sensed as presses of the virtual keys causingtypographical errors.

Although many touch screen devices include automatic spelling/predictionsoftware to attempt to reduce the effect of typographic errors, in manyinstances the predicted word is not the word the user wants.Accordingly, the user must constantly watch the touch screen display tomonitor the automatic predictions and to select the correct word. Thesetypes of interruptions greatly interfere with the text-entry efficiencyprovided by the user's ability to touch-type.

Additional drawbacks determined by the inventor of resistive andcapacitive based touch screen include that the sensed touches aretypically binary in nature, i.e. either the finger is not touching orthe finger is touching. These types of devices cannot sense the forcewith which a user touches the touch screen display. From a user point ofview, these touch screen devices also do not provide a user with anysensation of pressing a button or key, i.e. they provide no tactilefeedback.

One type of touch screen display used by Research In Motion (RIM) toprovide the user with tactile feedback was used in the Blackberry Stormseries of devices. In these products, one or more micro sensors wereplaced under the capacitive-based touch screen display. In operation,when the user wanted to make an on-screen selection, the user wouldpress the touch screen display. The touch screen display would thendeflect (by about a millimeter) and cause one of the micro sensors tophysically click or switch. The physical click would thus provide theuser with tactile confirmation of the button press.

Drawbacks to such approaches, determined by the inventor, include thatsuch devices were limited to the physical performance of the microsensors. For example, a user could not type very quickly with such anapproach because the user had to pause between key presses to wait untilthe micro sensors could fully reset before she could press the next key.Further, if the user placed two or more fingers on the touch screen atthe same time she depressed the touch screen (activating the microsensor(s)), it would be unclear which touch screen location or fingerthe user intended.

The inventor of the present application has also noticed that withadvances in graphical user interfaces, capacitive touch displays, highresolution displays, high contrast displays, and the like, much emphasishas been put upon the user interacting with the display. In contrast,previously, a number of physical buttons were provided upon devices suchas a portable telephone, a PDA, or the like. When the user pressed thephysical buttons, one of a number of actions occurred, such as launchingan application, making a telephone call, taking a picture, or the like.

Drawbacks to having physical buttons for such devices included that itincreased manufacturing and assembly costs, increased the number ofcomponents and complexity of the devices, increased the number ofpotential faulty components (e.g. broken switch, dust), and the like.Other drawbacks included that physical buttons are now often deemed tobe undesirable as they decrease the aesthetics of such devices. In lightof the above, recent popular devices have a reduced number of physicalbuttons.

Drawbacks to concentrating upon virtual (soft) buttons on a display,determined by the inventor, include that such devices greatly increasethe requirements that the user view a display and that the user mustinteract with that display to perform basic functions. As merely anexample, with popular devices, it is now virtually impossible for a userto enter a telephone number without requiring a user to look at thedisplay. As another example, it is now common for a user to press avirtual button displayed on a display to initiate taking a photograph,whereas previously a physical button was provided.

From the above, it is desired to have a device with user inputcapability without the drawbacks described above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to touch screen devices.More specifically, the present invention relates to touch screen devicescapable of sensing the force of a touch and methods of use thereof.

Various embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer systemsuch as a cell phone, internet access device, media player, or the likehaving a touch screen display and one or more physical sensors. Inoperation, when a user touches a location on the touch screen display,the function associated with the touched location is determined. Thefunction may be running of an application program, selection of afunction within an application program, and the like. In variousembodiments, a type and/or magnitude of movement is determined by theone or more physical sensors also in response to the user touching thetouch screen display. Based upon the type and/or magnitude of movementor combinations of movements, an input parameter or value may bedetermined for use by the selected function. Next, the function isinitiated and given the input parameter or value.

Other embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer systemsuch as a tablet computer, a smart phone, cell phone, or the like alsohaving a display (e.g. touch screen) and one or more physical sensors.In operation, when a user touches a location on the touch screendisplay, the function associated with the touched location is againdetermined. The function may be running of an application program,selection of a function within an application program, and the like. Invarious embodiments, a type and/or magnitude of movement is determinedby the one or more physical sensors also in response to the usertouching the touch screen display. The type and/or magnitude of movementis then compared to one or more thresholds for type and/or magnitude ofmovement. In various embodiments, if the threshold is not exceeded, thefunction is inhibited, and when the threshold is exceeded (e.g. enoughphysical impulse), the function is performed.

Other embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer systemsuch as a tablet computer, a smart phone, cell phone, or the like alsohaving a touch screen display and one or more physical sensors. Inoperation, when a user physically perturbs the computer system, theperturbation will cause the computer system to perform a user-desiredaction. The perturbation may be a change in physical position or angularorientation of the computer system, a change in air pressure, a changein sensed magnetic field, or the like. Merely as examples, a usertapping upon a case of the computer system (device) (or a surface uponwhich the computer system is laying upon or may cause the computersystem to take a picture; start or stop a timer; answer or disconnect atelephone call; invoke an application (e.g. knock-knocking on a computersystem to invoke a VOIP application, a chat application, an IM, or thelike); or the like. As other examples, a user positioning a credit cardmagnetic strip near the computer system may invoke a payment applicationand/or may cause the computer system to sense the data encoded on themagnetic strip; a sudden change in magnetic field may cause the computersystem to shut down; a constant or sudden change in air pressure mayinvoke a pressure monitoring program (e.g. a scuba diving logapplication, a weather application); may cause the computer system todisconnect wireless transceivers and enter an “airplane mode;” or thelike.

According to one aspect of the invention, a handheld device for readingdata from a magnetic storage media is described. One apparatus includesa housing, and a MEMS magnetic field sensor disposed within the housing,wherein the MEMS magnetic field sensor is configured to determine aplurality of magnetic data stored on a magnetic stripe of a userprovided media when the user disposes a user provided media proximate tothe housing. A device may include a processor disposed within thehousing and coupled to the MEMS magnetic field sensor, wherein theprocessor is programmed to receive the plurality of user data stored onthe user provided media, wherein the processor is configured to executean application program, and wherein the processor is programmed toprovide at least a subset of the plurality of user data to theapplication program.

According to another aspect of the invention, a computer implementedmethod for processing data stored on a magnetic stripe of a userprovided medium performed by a hand-held computer system programmed toperform the method is described. One technique includes sensing, by anMEMS magnetic field sensor disposed within the computer system, when theuser disposes the user provided media proximate to particular portion ofthe hand-held computer system, and sensing, by the MEMS magnetic fieldsensor, a plurality of magnetic data stored on a magnetic stripe of theuser provided medium when the user disposes the user provided mediaproximate to the particular portion of the computer system. A processmay include determining, with a processor disposed within the computersystem, a plurality of user data stored on the magnetic stripe inresponse to the plurality of magnetic data, and sending, with acommunications channel within the computer system, at least a subset ofthe plurality of user data to a remote server.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a hand-held computersystem for processing data stored on a magnetic stripe is disclosed. Onesystem includes a housing having a visual indicator, wherein the visualindicator indicates a location on the housing where a user shoulddispose a user provided media proximate thereto, and an MEMS magneticfield sensor disposed within the housing and proximate to the visualindicator, wherein the MEMS magnetic field sensor is configured todetermine a plurality of magnetic data stored on a magnetic stripe of auser provided media when the user disposes the user provided mediaproximate to the location on the housing. An apparatus may also includea processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the MEMS magneticfield sensor, wherein the processor is configured to execute executablecomputer code and a computer readable storage medium coupled to theprocessor, wherein the computer readable storage medium includesnon-transitory instructions stored therein. In various embodiments, thenon-transitory instructions include executable code that programs theprocessor to receive the plurality of magnetic data stored on themagnetic stripe from the MEMS magnetic field sensor, and executable codethat programs the processor to determine a plurality of user data storedon the magnetic stripe in response to the plurality of magnetic datastored on the magnetic stripe.

Various additional objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention can be more fully appreciated with reference to the detaileddescription and accompanying drawings that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more fully understand the present invention, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings arenot to be considered limitations in the scope of the invention, thepresently described embodiments and the presently understood best modeof the invention are described with additional detail through use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of various embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 2A-D illustrate block diagrams of flow processes according tovarious embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of flow processes according tovarious embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-D illustrate a process according to various embodiments of thepresent invention; and

FIGS. 5A-D illustrate a process according to various embodiments of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of various embodiments ofthe present invention. In FIG. 1, a computing device 100 typicallyincludes an applications processor 110, memory 120, a touch screendisplay 130 and driver 140, an image acquisition device 150, audioinput/output devices 160, and the like. Additional communications fromand to computing device are typically provided by via a wired interface170, a GPS/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth interface 180, RF interfaces 190 and driver200, and the like. Also included in various embodiments are physicalsensors 210.

In various embodiments, computing device 100 may be a hand-heldcomputing device (e.g. Apple iPad, Apple iTouch, Dell Mini slate, LenovoSkylight/IdeaPad, Asus EEE series, Microsoft Courier, Notion InkGenesis, Samsung Galaxy Tab,), a portable telephone (e.g. Apple iPhone,Motorola Droid, Droid X, Google Nexus One, HTC Incredible/EVO 4G, PalmPre series, Nokia N900), a portable computer (e.g. netbook, laptop), amedia player (e.g. Microsoft Zune, Apple iPod), a reading device (e.g.Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook), or the like.

Typically, computing device 100 may include one or more processors 110.Such processors 110 may also be termed application processors, and mayinclude a processor core, a video/graphics core, and other cores.Processors 110 may be a processor from Apple (A4), Intel (Atom), NVidia(Tegra 2), Marvell (Armada), Qualcomm (Snapdragon), Samsung, TI (OMAP),or the like. In various embodiments, the processor core may be an Intelprocessor, an ARM Holdings processor such as the Cortex-A, -M, -R or ARMseries processors, or the like. Further, in various embodiments, thevideo/graphics core may be an Imagination Technologies processor PowerVR-SGX, -MBX, -VGX graphics, an Nvidia graphics processor (e.g. GeForce),or the like. Other processing capability may include audio processors,interface controllers, and the like. It is contemplated that otherexisting and/or later-developed processors may be used in variousembodiments of the present invention.

In various embodiments, memory 120 may include different types of memory(including memory controllers), such as flash memory (e.g. NOR, NAND),pseudo SRAM, DDR SDRAM, or the like. Memory 120 may be fixed withincomputing device 100 or removable (e.g. SD, SDHC, MMC, MINI SD, MICROSD, CF, SIM). The above are examples of computer readable tangible mediathat may be used to store embodiments of the present invention, such ascomputer-executable software code (e.g. firmware, application programs),application data, operating system data or the like. It is contemplatedthat other existing and/or later-developed memory and memory technologymay be used in various embodiments of the present invention.

In various embodiments, touch screen display 130 and driver 140 may bebased upon a variety of later-developed or current touch screentechnology including resistive displays, capacitive displays, opticalsensor displays, electromagnetic resonance, or the like. Additionally,touch screen display 130 may include single touch or multiple-touchsensing capability. Any later-developed or conventional output displaytechnology may be used for the output display, such as TFT-LCD, OLED,Plasma, trans-reflective (Pixel Qi), electronic ink (e.g.electrophoretic, electrowetting, interferometric modulating). In variousembodiments, the resolution of such displays and the resolution of suchtouch sensors may be set based upon engineering or non-engineeringfactors (e.g. sales, marketing). In some embodiments of the presentinvention, a display output port, such as an HDMI-based port orDVI-based port may also be included.

In some embodiments of the present invention, image capture device 150may include a sensor, driver, lens and the like. The sensor may be basedupon any later-developed or convention sensor technology, such as CMOS,CCD, or the like. In various embodiments of the present invention, imagerecognition software programs are provided to process the image data.For example, such software may provide functionality such as: facialrecognition, head tracking, camera parameter control, or the like.

In various embodiments, audio input/output 160 may include conventionalmicrophone(s)/speakers. In some embodiments of the present invention,three-wire or four-wire audio connector ports are included to enable theuser to use an external audio device such as external speakers,headphones or combination headphone/microphones. In various embodiments,voice processing and/or recognition software may be provided toapplications processor 110 to enable the user to operate computingdevice 100 by stating voice commands. Additionally, a speech engine maybe provided in various embodiments to enable computing device 100 toprovide audio status messages, audio response messages, or the like.

In various embodiments, wired interface 170 may be used to provide datatransfers between computing device 100 and an external source, such as acomputer, a remote server, a storage network, another computing device100, or the like. Such data may include application data, operatingsystem data, firmware, or the like. Embodiments may include anylater-developed or conventional physical interface/protocol, such as:USB 2.0, 3.0, micro USB, mini USB, Firewire, Apple iPod connector,Ethernet, POTS, or the like. Additionally, software that enablescommunications over such networks is typically provided.

In various embodiments, a wireless interface 180 may also be provided toprovide wireless data transfers between computing device 100 andexternal sources, such as computers, storage networks, headphones,microphones, cameras, or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 1, wirelessprotocols may include Wi-Fi (e.g. IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, WiMax), Bluetooth,IR and the like.

GPS receiving capability may also be included in various embodiments ofthe present invention, however is not required. As illustrated in FIG.1, GPS functionality is included as part of wireless interface 180merely for sake of convenience, although in implementation, suchfunctionality is currently performed by circuitry that is distinct fromthe Wi-Fi circuitry and distinct from the Bluetooth circuitry.

Additional wireless communications may be provided via RF interfaces 190and drivers 200 in various embodiments. In various embodiments, RFinterfaces 190 may support any future-developed or conventional radiofrequency communications protocol, such as CDMA-based protocols (e.g.WCDMA), GSM-based protocols, HSUPA-based protocols, or the like. In theembodiments illustrated, driver 200 is illustrated as being distinctfrom applications processor 110. However, in some embodiments, thesefunctionality are provided upon a single IC package, for example theMarvel PXA330 processor, and the like. It is contemplated that someembodiments of computing device 100 need not include the RFfunctionality provided by RF interface 190 and driver 200.

FIG. 1 also illustrates computing device 100 to include physical sensors210. In various embodiments of the present invention, physical sensors210 are multi-axis Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based devicesbeing developed by M-cube, the assignee of the present patentapplication. Physical sensors 210 developed by M-cube currently includevery low power three-axis sensors (linear, gyro or magnetic); ultra-lowjitter three-axis sensors (linear, gyro or magnetic); low cost six-axismotion sensor (combination of linear, gyro, and/or magnetic); ten-axissensors (linear, gyro, magnetic, pressure); and various combinationsthereof. As described in the patent applications referenced above,various embodiments of physical sensors 210 are manufactured using afoundry-compatible process. As explained in such applications, becausethe process for manufacturing such physical sensors can be performed ona standard CMOS fabrication facility, it is expected that there will bea broader adoption of such components into computing device 100. Inother embodiments of the present invention, conventional physicalsensors 210 from Bosch, STMicroelectronics, Analog Devices, Kionix orthe like may be used.

In various embodiments, any number of future developed or currentoperating systems may be supported, such as iPhone OS (e.g. iOS),WindowsMobile (e.g. 7), Google Android (e.g. 2.2), Symbian, or the like.In various embodiments of the present invention, the operating systemmay be a multi-threaded multi-tasking operating system. Accordingly,inputs and/or outputs from and to touch screen display 130 and driver140 and inputs/or outputs to physical sensors 210 may be processed inparallel processing threads. In other embodiments, such events oroutputs may be processed serially, or the like. Inputs and outputs fromother functional blocks may also be processed in parallel or serially inother embodiments of the present invention, such as image acquisitiondevice 150 and physical sensors 210.

FIG. 1 is representative of one computing device 100 capable ofembodying the present invention. It will be readily apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art that many other hardware and softwareconfigurations are suitable for use with the present invention.Embodiments of the present invention may include at least some but neednot include all of the functional blocks illustrated in FIG. 1. Forexample, in various embodiments, computing device 100 may lack imageacquisition unit 150, or RF interface 190 and/or driver 200, or GPScapability, or the like. Additional functions may also be added tovarious embodiments of computing device 100, such as a physicalkeyboard, an additional image acquisition device, a trackball ortrackpad, a joystick, or the like. Further, it should be understood thatmultiple functional blocks may be embodied into a single physicalpackage or device, and various functional blocks may be divided and beperformed among separate physical packages or devices.

FIGS. 2A-D illustrate block diagrams of flow processes according tovarious embodiments of the present invention. For illustrative purposesonly, references to elements in FIG. 1 are provided in the discussionbelow merely for the sake of convenience.

In various embodiments of the present invention, physical sensors 210are provided as part of a computing device 100, step 300. For example,physical sensors 210 developed by the assignee of the present patentapplication are provided to an assembly entity to form computing device100. Computing device 100 is then assembled, step 310 and provided forthe user, step 320. As described above, in various embodiments,computing device 100 may be a cell-phone, an internet access device, atablet computer, a personal media player/viewer, or the like running anappropriate operating system.

In ordinary use of such a device, computing device 100 (via theoperating system) may display any number of graphical user interfacesincluding user-selectable regions on touch screen display 130, step 320.These user-selectable regions may include radio buttons, sliders,selection buttons, text entry regions and the like. Further, these softbuttons may be associated with application software functions, operatingsystem functions, data management functions, telephony functions, audioprocessing functions, image processing functions, or the like.

Subsequently, the user determines a function she wishes computing device100 to perform after viewing the graphical user interface, step 340. Invarious embodiments, the user then touches or contacts a portion oftouch screen display 130 corresponding to the user-selectable region,step 350.

Next, in various embodiments of the present invention, the followingprocesses can be performed in parallel by different processing threads,serially by one or more processes, or independently in separateprocessing threads.

In FIG. 2B, touch screen display 130 senses the user contact in step360. As described above, in various embodiments, touch screen display130 may perform this function via the use of resistive sensors,capacitive sensors, or the like. In response to the physical sensordata, the user-selectable region within the GUI is determined, step 370.Next, in various embodiments, computing device 100 then determines oneor more functions associated with the user-selectable region, step 380.

In various embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated thatwhen a user contacts her finger on touch screen display 130 in step 350,computing device 100 (physical sensors 210) will be physicallyperturbed, step 390. For example, when the user touches touch screendisplay 130, computing device 100 (physical sensors 210) will be subjectto a force (e.g. a change in sensed physical state, a physicalperturbation). In various embodiments, this physical change causesphysical sensors 210 to sense a change in spatial location (sensed by anaccelerometer), causes physical sensors 210 to sense a change its tiltor orientation (sensed by a gyroscope), or the like. For sake ofconvenience, FIG. 2A merely references use of an accelerometer. In otherembodiments, this change causes physical sensors 210 to sense a changein a magnetic field, sense a change in GPS coordinates, sense a changein temperature or air pressure, or the like.

Next, in various embodiments in response to the perturbations of thecomputing device 100/physical sensors 210, magnitudes and/or directionsof the changes are determined in step 400. As described in theabove-referenced patent applications, the CMOS foundry-compatible MEMSphysical sensor embodiments of the present invention provide a higherlevel of sensitivity and lower level of noise for such measurements thanis currently available.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the process may thenproceed to FIG. 2C or 2D.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2C, a determination is then made asto whether the type, magnitude and/or direction of the sensed physicalperturbations exceed a predetermined threshold, step 410. In variousembodiments, the type of sensed perturbations and the threshold may bepredetermined by the operating system, may be set by the user during,for example, a setup phase, may be specified by the application offunction or the like.

As various examples, the threshold may be an acceleration in a−z-direction (away from a touch screen display) of 0.1 g, anacceleration in a −z-direction of 0.05 g followed by an acceleration inthe +z-direction of 0.03 g; an acceleration of 0.1 g in the −z-directionand accelerations of 0.03 g in the x and y directions; a tilt of 0.5degrees in a first axis rotation at the same time as a tilt of 1 degreein a second axis of rotation; a tilt of 0.2 degrees in a first axisfollowed by a tilt of −0.3 degrees in the first axis; a increase inmagnetic field by 10 gauss; an increase in atmospheric pressure of 10 mmHg for 0.25 seconds; and the like. In light of the present patentdisclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize manydifferent thresholds based upon permutations of acceleration, tilts,magnetic fields, pressure, GPS coordinates, time, and the like, that arewithin the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

In various embodiments, if the threshold is exceeded, the functiondetermined in step 380 is performed, step 420; if not, the processreturns to step 330. Embodiments may be applied to any number ofdifferent functions, for example, a virtual telephone keypad. In typicalsituations, a user may inadvertently make a telephone call when the cellphone is in her pocket and she reaches for her keys. As her fingersbrush against the virtual keypad, the telephone may interpret these asuser selections for a telephone number to call. In various embodiments,inadvertent calls may be avoided if it is required that the physicalsensors detect an acceleration (e.g. 0.1 g) primarily in the −zdirection at about the same time the user touches the virtual keyboardkeys. When in her pocket, when the fingers brush or knock against thekey pad, the physical sensors may detect an acceleration of 0.05 g inthe −z direction, 0.02 in the x direction and 0.05 in the y direction,then, the user touch may be ignored. Accordingly, the execution ofunintended user functions on a computing device may be reduced.

In additional embodiments of the present invention, the process of FIG.2B may proceed to FIG. 2D. In these embodiments a determination is thenmade as to a value for an input parameter based upon the type, magnitudeand/or direction of the sensed physical perturbations, step 430. Invarious embodiments, a relationship between the type of sensedperturbations and the input parameter may be predetermined by theoperating system, may be set by the user during, for example, a setupphase, may be specified by the application of function or the like.

Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2C, a number of differentthresholds may be used and mapped to different values for the inputparameter. In various examples, an acceleration in a −z-direction (awayfrom a touch screen display) of 0.1 g may map to an input value of “1,”0.2 g may map to “2,” 0.3 g may map to “3,” or the like; an accelerationin only a −z direction of 0.01 g may map to an input value of “256,” anacceleration of 0.01 g in the −z direction and 0.05 g in the x-directionmay map to an input value of “512;” a clockwise roll of 0.1 degrees maymap to an input value of “increase,” a counter clock-wise roll of 0.1degrees may map to an input value of “decrease,” or the like.

In response to the value for the input parameter determined, in step440, the function may be performed using this value. Embodiments may beapplied to any number of different functions, for example, a paintingprogram. In such cases, a harder tap may be associated with a largerpaint spot upon a canvas, a softer tap may be associated with a smallerspot upon a canvas, and the like. In other embodiments, other types ofparameters may also be adjusted based upon sensed physical change suchas: position of graphic elements, brightness, contrast, gamma,sharpness, saturation, filter, and the like. As another example, a flickof a finger at a first velocity with a low impact may be associatedmoving a series of images at a slower rate, a flick of a finger at thefirst velocity with a higher impact may be associated moving a series ofimages at a faster rate. In other embodiments, other types of parametersmay also be adjusted, such as: rate of acceleration, rate of rotation,rate of zoom, rate of pan, and the like. As another example, the type ormagnitude of sensed physical change may control a volume level, amicrophone sensitivity level, a bass level, a treble level, or the like.Accordingly, the execution of user functions may have different inputparameters of values based upon sensed physical changes.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of flow processes according tovarious embodiments of the present invention. For illustrative purposesonly, reference to elements in FIG. 1 may be provided in the discussionbelow merely for the sake of convenience.

In various embodiments of the present invention, physical sensors 210are provided as part of a computing device 100, step 500. For example,physical sensors 210 developed by the assignee of the present patentapplication are provided to an assembly entity to form computing device100. Computing device 100 is then assembled, step 510, and provided forthe user. As described above, in various embodiments, computing device100 may be a cell-phone, internet access device, a tablet computer, apersonal media player/viewer, or the like running an appropriateoperating system along with software applications. These steps may beperformed at device manufacturing time whereas the following steps maybe performed by a user of the device, or the like.

Next, a user may run or execute a software application upon computingdevice 100, step 520. In various embodiments, the software applicationmay be an operating system, a program, or the like. In such software, auser input or triggering event is required to invoke a function oncomputing device 100. As merely an example, a function may be taking apicture, answering or terminating a phone call; initiating a VOIPapplication, chat program, IM, or the like; initiating a data loggingprogram; or the like. In various embodiments, the user may be promptedto perturb computing device 100 to invoke the function. For example, anoutput audio message may prompt the user, such as, “tap the phoneanywhere to take a picture;” a display image may prompt the user, suchas a sequential display of lights in a drag strip “Christmas tree”sequence; and the like.

In various embodiments, computing device 100 is perturbed, step 530. Insome examples, the user may directly perturb computing device 100, forexample, the user may physically displace, accelerate, rotate and/ormove computing device 100 itself (e.g. tapping on the interface device);the user may perturb computing device 100 indirectly (e.g. tapping on atable upon which the interface device is resting); or the like. In otherexamples, the user may indirectly cause the perturbation, for example, acomputing device 100 and a magnetic source are moved towards or awayfrom each other, the air pressure may decrease as the user flies in anairplane or as the weather changes, or the like.

In various embodiments, a type and magnitude of the perturbation aredetermined by the respective sensors, typically in parallel. Forexample, an acceleration in the x, y or z axis may be determined by x,y, and z axis accelerometers, a tilt, pan, or roll may be determined byx, y and z rotation sensors, a change in pressure may be determined by apressure sensor, a change in magnetic field in may be determined in x, yand z axis by separate magnetic sensors, and the like. As discussedabove, various embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as athree-axis, six-axis, nine-axis, ten-axis or the like MEMS devicecurrently being developed by the assignee of the present patentapplication.

In response to the perturbations, computing device 100 determineswhether the perturbation are of the type expected/required by thesoftware application, step 540. For example, if computing device 100 isexpecting an acceleration in the z-axis, a change is magnetic field maynot be deemed to be the proper type of perturbation; if computing device100 is expecting a change in GPS coordinates, a rotation may not bedeemed to be the proper type of perturbation, or the like. In variousembodiments, if the perturbation is the desired type, the processcontinues in step 550, otherwise, the perturbation may be ignored.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the magnitudes of theperturbations may be compared to one or more thresholds, step 550. Thisstep is similar to that described in step 410, above. More specifically,in various embodiments, it may be desirable that the magnitudes of theperturbations be sufficient to reduce the chance of accidental orunintended user input. For example, in one application, a user can knockupon a table to answer call on a cell phone resting upon the table. Insuch an application, it may be desirable that a firm knock be sensed,before the phone is answered, otherwise, mere shuffling of papers maycause the call to be answered. As other examples, in some embodiments, achange in sensed magnetic field may be small enough to be consideredmerely noise, thus such changes may be ignored; a change in sensedpressure differential may be too small to be considered a valid pressuredifferential; or the like.

As another example, in one application, a user taps on the surface of ahand-held device (e.g. edge, back plate, etc.) to have the hand-helddevice take a picture. In such an application, without such a threshold,as the user is fumbling the hand-held device and moving the device to aproper photographic position, the hand-held device may sense suchchanges in positions, and the like, as the user command to take apicture. Accordingly, without a properly set threshold, pictures may betaken at the wrong times.

In various embodiments, if the magnitude of the perturbation exceeds thethreshold, the desired function may be performed, step 560. In light ofthe present patent disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize many different types of applications may be performed withinembodiments of the present invention.

Merely by example, one application may be recording acceleration data inthree-dimensions with respect to time. In such an example, the user mayinvoke the software application on the computing device; however, theactual recording of the data is initiated in step 560, only after asufficient change in acceleration is sensed. Such an application may beuseful for data logging purposes for a vehicle (e.g. a black box), maybe useful for data logging for sports activities (e.g. monitoringmovement of a golf club, fishing rod, racquet), may be useful for datalogging of freight (e.g. monitoring how roughly freight is handled), orthe like. In various examples, other types of perturbations other thanthe triggering perturbation may also be logged, in the embodimentsabove. For example, for data logging of sports activities, the rotationin three axes of a golf club may also be recorded in addition to thelinear acceleration of the golf club, in three-dimensions.

As another example, one application may be recording magnetic datastored on a magnetic storage media (e.g. a magnetic stripe (e.g. a bankcard, credit card); magnetic ink (e.g. currency, commercial or consumerpaper, negotiable instruments); or the like. Representative examplesinclude a hand-held device, such as a phone, applications device (e.g.Apple iPad) or the like, including one or more magnetic field sensors,as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent application. In someembodiments of the present invention, the sensitivity of such magneticsensors may range from approximately: 0.8 mVN/Oe to 1 mV/V/Oe toapproximately 1.2 mVN/Oe, or the like; and the field range of suchmagnetic sensors may be adjusted by gain and may be within the rangefrom approximately, +/−1 Oe, to +/−2 Oe, to +/−4 Oe, to +/−8 Oe to +/−12Oe, or the like. In such devices, a software application running on thecomputing device may be designed to read magnetic field data external tothe device, using the included magnetic sensors. In various examples,the application may monitor the data from the magnetic sensors when themagnetic stripe of a credit card, or the like, is moved (e.g. slowly)over the device. In other embodiments, the device may be moved relativeto the credit card, or the like.

In various embodiments, the magnetic sensors can separately read any ofthe three or more tracks recorded on typical credit card magneticstripes, drivers licenses, or the like, depending upon the orientationof the magnetic stripes relative to the magnetic sensors. Suchembodiments may include magnetic shielding to help isolate track data.In various embodiments, the encoded data stored on any or all of thetracks can be individually sensed or read. In various embodiments, themagnetic sensors may be configured such that the magnetic data on acredit card, or the like may be sensed on the rear portion of a device,e.g. through the casing; or the magnetic sensors may be configured tosense magnetic data on the front portion of a device, e.g. over thedisplay. For the former example, a line, a black mark, a circle or thelike may be a physical feature or a graphic feature provided on the rearportion of the device to help the user align the magnetic tracks to themagnetic sensors. Examples of the magnetic sensor being on the frontportion of a device and the magnetic sensor being on the back portion ofa device are illustrated below.

FIGS. 4A-D illustrate a process according to various embodiments of thepresent invention. FIG. 4A illustrates a computing device 600, having adisplay 610 and a magnetic sensor 620. Similar to embodiments describedabove, computing device 600 may be embodied as a hand-held device, acell-phone, an applications platform, or the like. Further, magneticsensor 620 may be a magnetic sensing element that is embedded intocomputing device 600 and configured to sense magnetic fields abovedisplay 610, for example. In various embodiments, magnetic sensor 620may be a MEMS based magnetic sensor. Further, in various embodiments,magnetic sensor 620 may be a MEMS based magnetic sensor having highsensitivity, high field range, and low-noise, such as a MEMS basedmagnetic sensor described in the patent application incorporated byreference above.

In FIG. 4B, a processor of computing device 600 is programmed to run anapplication program that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) 630on display 610. In various embodiments, GUI 630 may include textualinformation, as well as graphical images 640. In the example illustratedin FIG. 4A, GUI 630 instructs the user to hold up their magnetic storagemedia, e.g. credit card, adjacent to display 610 as shown by graphicalimage 640. In various embodiments, graphical image 640 serves as avisual guide to the user for aligning the magnetic storage mediarelative to magnetic sensor 620 for the subsequent steps. In variousembodiments, graphical image 640 may also include graphical image 645that helps the user maintain alignment of a magnetic storage mediarelative to magnetic sensor 620.

As illustrated in FIG. 4C, a user 660 holds up magnetic storage media650 according to the instructions in GUI 610. In various embodiments,when the magnetic storage media is placed in such an orientation oralignment, magnetic sensor 620 may be aligned to a particular magnetictrack of magnetic storage media 650. For example, based upon graphicalimage 640, magnetic sensor 620 may be aligned to any of the threemagnetic tracks found on typical credit cards, for example. As oneexample, an application may visually instruct the user 660 to positionmagnetic storage media 650 such that magnetic sensor 620 is aligned totrack one, then the application may visually instruct the user 660 toposition magnetic storage media 650 such that magnetic sensor 620 isaligned to track two, or the like.

In various embodiments, when magnetic sensor 620 senses magnetic mediafrom magnetic storage media 650 positioned above magnetic sensor 620,the application program progresses to the next state.

As illustrated in FIG. 4D, in various embodiments, the processor runningthe application program provides GUI 670. In various embodiments, GUI670 may include textual information, as well as graphical and/or movingimages 680. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4D, GUI 670 instructs theuser to carefully move magnetic storage media 650 along display 610. Asillustrated, graphical image 645 may along with graphical image 640 toprovide user 660 with visual feedback.

By doing this, magnetic storage media 650 is passed across magneticsensor 620, and data stored on the appropriate track is read by magneticstorage media 650. In various embodiments, the read data is used by theapplication program. For example, in various embodiments, if magneticstorage media 650 is a credit card, the credit card number, name, andthe like can be read; if magnetic storage media 650 is a license, aname, physical characteristics, address, and the like can be read; andthe like. The application may then provide the data to a remote serverfor storage or for further processing, for example, providing the creditcard number and expiration date to a web-based retailer, or the like;providing a drivers license number to law enforcement agencies; or thelike.

In other embodiments of the present invention, a user may be instructedto place their finger, thumbnail, another credit card or the like alongthe display to aid in alignment of the magnetic sensors relative to themagnetic track, or the like. For example, the user may be instructed toplace a finger of their other hand on location 690 to keep the top edgeof magnetic storage media 650 properly aligned to magnetic sensor 620.As another example, the user may be instructed to place another creditcard, or the like along line 695, and then use the edge of that creditcard as a guide for moving their credit card across the face of thedevice.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the application mayoperate in a landscape orientation compared to the portrait orientationillustrated in FIGS. 4A-D. Further, with larger display devices, e.g.tablet computer (iPad), the graphical user interfaces may be adjustedfor the smaller relative size of the magnetic storage media, e.g. creditcard.

FIGS. 5A-D illustrate a process according to various embodiments of thepresent invention. FIG. 5A illustrates a back of a computing device 700,having a magnetic sensor 710. Similar to embodiments described above,computing device 700 may be embodied as a hand-held device, acell-phone, an applications platform, or the like. Further, magneticsensor 710 may be a magnetic sensing element that is embedded intocomputing device 600 and configured to sense magnetic fields abovedisplay 610, for example. In various embodiments, magnetic sensor 710may be a MEMS based magnetic sensor. Further, in various embodiments,magnetic sensor 710 may be a MEMS based magnetic sensor having highsensitivity, high field range, and low-noise, such as a MEMS basedmagnetic sensor described in the patent application incorporated byreference, above.

In FIG. 5B, a back of a computing device 760 may have a series of ridges780-800. In various embodiments, series of ridges 780-800 may protrudefrom the back of computing device 760 as shown in the side-view in FIG.5B. As illustrated, magnetic sensor 770 can be located within computingdevice 760 and need not be positioned adjacent to the back of computingdevice 760.

In operation, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, a magnetic storage media 810,e.g. a credit card, having a magnetic strip 820 is shown. As mentionedabove, in various embodiments, magnetic strip 820 may include one ormore magnetic tracks. In the example shown, when the user pushesmagnetic storage media 810 against ridge 790, magnetic sensor 770 ispositioned to read data from the middle magnetic track. In the exampleshown in FIG. 5D, when the user pushes magnetic storage media 810against ridge 780, magnetic sensor 770 is positioned to read a bottommagnetic track. Further, when the user pushes magnetic storage media 810against ridge 800, magnetic sensor 770 is positioned to read data fromthe top magnetic track. Accordingly, as shown, data can be read from anytrack on the magnetic stripe, depending upon which ridge the credit cardis aligned against.

In other embodiments of the present invention, a user may be instructedto place their fingers, thumbnail, another credit card or the like alongthe display to aid in alignment of the magnetic sensors relative to themagnetic track, or the like. For example, the user may be instructed toplace fingers on locations 730 to keep the top edge of a magneticstorage media properly aligned to magnetic sensor 710. As anotherexample, the user may be instructed to place another credit card, or thelike along line 740, and then use the edge of that credit card as aguide for moving their credit card across magnetic sensor 710. Invarious embodiments, an optical mark 720 may be provided to give theuser an indication of the reading position of magnetic sensor 770.

In various embodiments, the sensed data may then be used as input toother applications, for example, the credit card number, and other datamay be provided for e-commerce applications. In other examples, themagnetic sensors can read magnetic data stored on identification cards,e.g. drivers' licenses, or the like and provide such data to a securityprogram or for security purposes. In other examples, the magneticsensors can be used to monitor magnetic attached or implanted into aperson's body for surveillance or monitoring purposes, or the like.

In still other embodiments, the magnetic sensors may be used to senseand track the localized presence of magnetizable materials (e.g. highermagnetic permeability), such as iron, nickel, steel, another magnet orthe like. This may be done by sensing localized perturbations in aglobal magnetic field (e.g. the Earth's magnetic field) due to thesteel, magnet, or the like. In various embodiments, the tracking may bein two dimensions, e.g. along the display plane or surface of thedevice; or in three dimensions, e.g. along the display plane of thedevice, in addition to towards and away from the display plane of thedevice. As merely an example, the magnetic sensors may be use to trackthe position of a metal tip of a pen (having a steel ball, iron alloyball, or the like). For example, a user may “sign” their name on adisplay of a device by moving the metal-tipped pen across the surface ofa display. Although the device may not officially support an externalstylus (e.g. iPad), the position of the metal or magnetic-tipped pen tipmay be tracked by the on-board magnetic sensors and used. Further, withappropriate pre-calibration between the magnetic sensors and positionson the display of the device, with the sensed data, the display mayvisually indicate or reflect the positions of the pen on the display.Accordingly, the display can track and display the path drawn by theuser across the face of the display. In some examples, the user can thenenter hand written notes, sign their name (e.g. signature), or the likeon the display by using an ordinary pen. In other embodiments, the usercan interact with the user interface of their device with an ordinarymetal-tipped pen to perform customary functions such as invokeapplications, select data, surf the web, drag and drop, or the like in asimilar way they may use their finger(s).

In still other embodiments, the magnetic sensors can track the locationof a magnet or metal material (e.g. magnetizable material) inthree-dimensions relative to the device. In such embodiments,pre-calibration may be necessary to correlate the locations of magneticor metal material in three-space. For example, the user may be initiallyinstructed to position the magnet or metal material at certain x, y andz positions relative to the device, e.g. at lattice corners. In variousembodiments, once located at specified locations, the magnetic fielddata sensed by the magnetic sensors is recorded to determine thecalibration data. Subsequently, as the user moves the magnet or metalmaterial in three-space, the magnetic sensor data is compared to thecalibration data to determine the location of the magnet or metalmaterial in x, y and z space. In one application, the magnetic or metalmaterial may first be positioned at a location on a sculpture; nextbased upon the magnetic sensor data, the x, y and z position of thatlocation on the sculpture, the x, y and z space coordinates aredetermined; subsequently, this process is then repeated for otherlocations on the sculpture. By doing so, in various embodiments, thethree-dimensional shape or surface of the sculpture, or the like may beeffectively digitized.

As another example, one application may be logging of pressure for scubadiving or for flying. In such an example, a software application runningon the computing device may be designed to read pressure data using theincluded air pressure sensors. In such an example, the application maymonitor the air pressure sensor, and when the pressure changes at asufficient rate (e.g. faster than the weather changing), the computingdevice may record the change in pressures with respect to time. In thecase of a scuba diving application, the pressure may be correlated todiving depth versus time. Such data can then be used by the softwareapplication to notify the diver of decompression depths and durations,whether decompression is required, and the like. In the case of a flyingapplication, the air pressure may be correlated to flying altitude. Suchdata can then be used to warn the user if there is a slow decompressionleak in the cabin, to monitor the altitude versus time (e.g. black box),or the like.

As another example, one application may be capturing one or more imagesof a camera in response to the user tapping upon the case (e.g. back,side, edge) of a device (e.g. phone). For example, while the user pointsthe high resolution camera of their device at the target (e.g.themselves for a self portrait) the user taps the side of the camera. Invarious embodiments, such a method for initiating capturing ofphotographs or images is considered by the inventors as a superiormethod for taking pictures compared to a user blindly pressing softwarebuttons (mashing) their fingers on a GUI on the display screen, whichthey cannot see. This sort of situation is commonly found of devicessuch as the iPhone 4, droid X, HTC Evo 4G for example, when the usertakes a high resolution (e.g. ˜≧3 mp) self portrait; when the user istaking a picture in bright sunlight; or the like. In variousembodiments, in response to the command for initiating capturing ofphotographic images (e.g. a sufficiently hard device case finger tap),after a short delay to enable the camera to become stable again, theimage may be taken. In various embodiments, the image may be capturedonce the device becomes stationary (as determined by accelerometers),after the finger tap; a short amount of time after the finger tap; orthe like.

In various embodiments, the hand-held device may capture a series ofimages into a temporary storage and determine one or more images to keepbased upon optical parameters of the images (e.g. which image has theleast amount of blur); based upon image parameters of the images (e.g.which image has the fastest shutter speed); physical parameters of thehand-held device (e.g. which image was taken at a time having the leastamount of associated physical movement based upon the accelerometers,gyroscopes, or the like). In other embodiments, the hand-held device maydecide when to take a picture based upon acceleration of the device. Forexample, the movement of the hand-held device may be monitored, and thenwhen the movement/acceleration is very small, the camera of thehand-held device may be triggered.

In various embodiments the magnitude of the acceleration can be used toset camera parameters such as aperture, ISO rating, shutter speed, andthe like. For example, if the magnitude of acceleration is consideredlarge (for example, indicating a urgent, hurried photographicenvironment), the shutter speed may be increased, the ISO may beincreased, the aperture may be decreased (increasing the depth offield), a number of photographs in a burst taken may be increased, orthe like; if the magnitude of acceleration is considered small (forexample, indicating a quiet, less hurried photographic environment) avolume for a shutter sound may be decreased, the ISO may be decreased,the aperture may be decreased (decreasing the depth of field), or thelike.

In other embodiments, the user tapping on the case, as described above,may be used to initiate other types of operations by the computersystem. For example a single tap on the back of the computer system mayinitiate a process for recording audio signals via a microphone, and adouble tap on the back may pause or finish the recording of audiosignals. As merely another example, a single tap may be used by a userto answer a telephone call, a double tap may be used to mute and unmutea telephone call, a triple tap may be used by the user to hang up thetelephone call. A tap near the top of the computer system device mayincrease the audio playback volume and a tap near the bottom of thedevice may decrease the playback volume, or the like.

Further embodiments can be envisioned to one of ordinary skill in theart after reading this disclosure. In other embodiments, combinations orsub-combinations of the above disclosed invention can be advantageouslymade. The block diagrams of the architecture and flow charts are groupedfor ease of understanding. However it should be understood thatcombinations of blocks, additions of new blocks, re-arrangement ofblocks, and the like are contemplated in alternative embodiments of thepresent invention.

The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, beevident that various modifications and changes may be made thereuntowithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the claims.

1. A handheld device comprising: a housing; a Micro-ElectronicMechanical System (MEMS) magnetic field sensor disposed within thehousing, wherein the MEMS magnetic field sensor is configured todetermine a plurality of magnetic data stored on a magnetic stripe of auser provided media when the user disposes the user provided mediaproximate to the housing, wherein the plurality of magnetic data isdetermined from a first track of data from a plurality of magnetictracks of data in the magnetic stripe when the user disposes the userprovided media proximate to the housing in a first configuration, andwherein the plurality of magnetic data is determined from a second trackof data from a plurality of magnetic tracks of data in the magneticstripe when the user disposes the user provided media proximate to thehousing in a second configuration; and a processor disposed within thehousing and coupled to the MEMS magnetic field sensor, wherein theprocessor is programmed to receive the plurality of user data stored onthe user provided media, wherein the processor is configured to executean application program, and wherein the processor is programmed toprovide at least a subset of the plurality of user data to theapplication program.
 2. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the MEMSmagnetic sensor comprises a MEMS magnetic sensor manufactured using afoundry compatible process.
 3. The handheld device of claim 1 whereinthe MEMS magnetic sensor comprises a three-axis magnetic field sensor.4. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the MEMS magnetic sensor isconfigured to determine the plurality of magnetic data from one or moretracks of data in the magnetic stripe.
 5. The handheld device of claim 1wherein the MEMS magnetic sensor is configured to determine a pluralityof magnetic data from a user provided media selected from a groupconsisting of: a credit card, a bank card, a debit card, a driver'slicense, and an identification card.
 6. The handheld device of claim 1further comprising: a communications channel disposed within thehousing, wherein the communications channel is configured to wirelesslyoutput data to a remote server; wherein the processor is configured toprovide at least a subset of the plurality of user data to thecommunications channel; and wherein the communications channel isconfigured to wirelessly output at least the subset of the plurality ofuser data to the remote server.
 7. The handheld device of claim 1further comprising an alignment ridge configured to align the userprovided media proximate to the MEMS magnetic sensor.
 8. A computerimplemented method for processing data stored on a magnetic stripe of auser provided medium performed by a hand-held computer system programmedto perform the method comprising: sensing, by a Micro-ElectronicMechanical System (MEMS) magnetic field sensor disposed within thecomputer system, when the user disposes the user provided mediaproximate to a particular portion of the hand-held computer system;sensing, by the MEMS magnetic field sensor, a plurality of magnetic datastored on a magnetic stripe of the user provided medium when the userdisposes the user provided media proximate to the particular portion ofthe computer system; determining, with a processor disposed within thecomputer system, a plurality of user data stored on the magnetic stripein response to the plurality of magnetic data; and sending, with acommunications channel within the computer system, at least a subset ofthe plurality of user data to a remote server, wherein the subset of theplurality of user data is determined via user input from auser-interface device.
 9. The computer implemented method of claim 8wherein the sensing comprises sensing, by a foundry compatible processmanufactured MEMS magnetic sensor, the plurality of magnetic data storedon the magnetic stripe of the user provided medium.
 10. The computerimplemented method of claim 8 wherein the sensing comprises sensing, byat least one axis of a three-axis MEMS magnetic field sensor, theplurality of magnetic data stored on the magnetic stripe of the userprovided medium.
 11. The computer implemented method of claim 8 whereinthe sensing comprises sensing, by the MEMS magnetic field sensordisposed within the computer system, a plurality of magnetic data storedon a first track of the magnetic stripe when the user provided media isin a first orientation relative to the particular portion of thehand-held computer system, and a plurality of magnetic data stored on asecond track of the magnetic stripe when the user provided media is in asecond orientation relative to the particular portion of the hand-heldcomputer system.
 12. The computer implemented method of claim 8 whereinthe sensing, by the MEMS magnetic field sensor, a plurality of magneticdata on a magnetic stripe of a user provided medium comprises sensing,with an alignment ridge configured to align the user provided mediaproximate to the MEMS magnetic field sensor.
 13. The computerimplemented method of claim 8 wherein the determining comprisesdetermining, with the processor, the plurality of user data, wherein theuser data is selected from a group consisting of: a credit card, a bankcard, a debit card, a drivers license, an identification card.
 14. Thecomputer implemented method of claim 8 wherein the sensing comprisessensing, by the MEMS magnetic sensor, the plurality of magnetic datastored on the magnetic stripe within a field range of +/−1 Oe toapproximately +/−12 Oe.
 15. A hand-held computer system for processingdata stored on a magnetic stripe comprising: a housing having a visualindicator, wherein the visual indicator indicates a location on thehousing where a user should dispose a user provided media proximatethereto; a Micro-Electronic Mechanical System (MEMS) magnetic fieldsensor disposed within the housing and proximate to the visualindicator, wherein the MEMS magnetic field sensor is configured todetermine a plurality of magnetic data stored on a magnetic stripe of auser provided media when the user disposes the user provided mediaproximate to the location on the housing; a processor disposed withinthe housing and coupled to the MEMS magnetic field sensor, wherein theprocessor is configured to execute executable computer code; a computerreadable storage medium coupled to the processor, wherein the computerreadable storage medium includes non-transitory instructions storedtherein, wherein the non-transitory instructions comprises: executablecode that programs the processor to receive the plurality of magneticdata stored on the magnetic stripe from the MEMS magnetic field sensor;and executable code that programs the processor to determine a pluralityof user data stored on the magnetic stripe in response to the pluralityof magnetic data stored on the magnetic striper; and a display disposedwithin the housing and coupled to the processor, wherein the display isconfigured to display the plurality of user data.
 16. The hand-heldcomputer system of claim 15 further comprising: a communications channelconfigured to output data to a remote server; and wherein the computerreadable storage medium further comprises executable code that programsthe processor to output at least a subset of the plurality of user datato the remote server via the communications channel.
 17. The hand-heldcomputer system of claim 15 wherein the MEMS magnetic field sensorcomprises two or more alignment ridges configured to align the userprovided media proximate to the MEMS magnetic sensor to enabledetermination of at least first user date and second user data.
 18. Thehand-held computer system of claim 15 wherein the MEMS magnetic fieldsensor comprises a three-axis MEMS magnetic field sensor.
 19. Thehand-held computer system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of magneticdata is determined from a first track of data from a plurality ofmagnetic tracks of data in the magnetic stripe when the user disposesthe user provided media proximate to the location in a firstconfiguration, and wherein the plurality of magnetic data is determinedfrom a second track of data from the plurality of magnetic tracks ofdata in the magnetic stripe when the user disposes the user providedmedia proximate to the location in a second configuration.
 20. Thehand-held computer system of claim 15 wherein data from the plurality ofuser data is selected from a group consisting of: a credit card, a bankcard, a debit card, a drivers license, an identification card.